David Hains — Director
Registered Nurse
I am a Registered Nurse based in Adelaide, South Australia, and the former President of the Australasian Solution Focused Association (2018-22). In October 2018 I was awarded the prestigious "Mental Health Nurse Achievement Award" by the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses. I have 30 years experience in general and mental health nursing, including 18 years working in Emergency Departments. My recent position as a Nurse Consultant (i.e. senior nurse, team leader) incorporated assessments, crisis intervention, counselling/therapy, teaching nurses and doctors, all occurring in the hectic Emergency Department environment. This experience helps me to think quickly and outside the square while always maintaining a cool calm head and persona, and a calming influence on those around me.
My interest in Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) started in 2006 and I have attended several training courses with Michael Durrant in Sydney and Adelaide through the Brief Therapy Institute of Sydney. Michael is one of the world leaders in solution focused teaching and clinical work. In 2014 I became a member of the new Australasian Association of Solution Focused Brief Therapy (AASFBT), and in 2016 became a board member of the Association. In 2016 Michael offered me formal endorsement as an associate with the Brief Therapy Institute.
In 2016 I was awarded the prestigious South Australian Premier's Nursing Scholarship which enabled me to go on a research tour of Alberta, Canada to examine the use of SFBT in hospital and other health facilities. On return in 2017 I was the convener of the AASFBT Conference in Adelaide. I am also the coordinator of the SFBT Community of Practice through the Mental Health Professionals Network and have built a community of over 400 people interested in SFBT in 7 years.
For more information about the work I am doing with SFBT, including some insights from my trip to Canada, please have a look at: Durrant, M. (2016) "Solution-Focused work in the busy Emergency Department of a large city hospital. An interview with David Hains" Journal of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Vol. 2, No. 2, pages 61-71.
Left Turn Solutions was started in 2016 as a way for me to bring my knowledge and experience out of the hospital and into the corporate, NGO and private sectors.
In recent years I held a casual teaching position at Flinders University where I taught undergraduate nursing and paramedic students about Mental Health, and in 2021 I was co-editor of a new textbook for Paramedics "Mental Health and Mental Illness in Paramedic Practice"
In recent years I held a casual teaching position at Flinders University where I taught undergraduate nursing and paramedic students about Mental Health, and in 2021 I was co-editor of a new textbook for Paramedics "Mental Health and Mental Illness in Paramedic Practice"
Recent, Current, and Upcoming Projects (and news)
Former President (2018-22) and now Life Member of the Australasian Solution Focused Association
2018 presented with the Mental Health Nurse Achievement Award by the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses
Conference presentation at the 2019 Aotearoa New Zealand Solution Practice Conference, Napier
Conference presentation at the 2018 TheMHS Conference in Adelaide - "Taking "person centred care" from a concept to a practical approach using Solution Focused Brief Therapy"
Conference presentation at the 2018 AASFBT Conference in Melbourne - "The pragmatics of using SFBT with the suicidal client"
Mental Illness Fellowship of South Australia (NGO) – Providing solution focused training and education to staff.
Morier Ward at Noarlunga Hospital – Providing training, education and support to doctors, nurses and allied health staff to establish a Solution Focused model of care in the inpatient psychiatric unit.
Conference of the Australasian Association for Solution Focused Brief Therapy – Convener of the 2017 conference held at the University of South Australia.
SALHN Intermediate Care Services and Complex Care Team – provide solution focused training to their non-mental health teams
Lifetime Support Authority - provide solution focused and suicide prevention training
Professional Memberships
Member Australian College of Mental Health Nurses
Member Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation
Former President, and now Life Member Australasian Solution Focused Association
2020 presented with the Leadership Award by the S.A. Branch of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation
2016 presented with the S.A. Premier's Nursing Scholarship
Co-editor "Mental Health and Mental Illness in Paramedic Practice" published by Elsevier Australia in 2021
